WEBINAR IS ONLINE, SEPTEMBER 16, NOON TO 1 PM

Learn to make your course materials accessible in Blackboard.

During the SP2019 semester, Ally was deployed to courses using Ultra. Ally is available in all courses regardless of course interface starting in SU2019.

Learn about Ally, a new tool to help improve the accessibility of course content in Blackboard. Attend this orientation and demonstration session to see Ally’s powerful file conversion tools for alternative formats. Review the accessibility of your own course materials using the Ally indicator.

Workshop Objectives

Upon completion of the workshop, participants should be able to:

• Review accessibility guidelines.

• Create alternative, more accessible versions of course content.

• Review key barriers that hinder the accessibility of content.

• Apply changes to content based on recommendations from the Ally accessibility plan.

• Understand and interpret results based on recommended remediation approaches.

• Identify and utilize accessibility tools to create more accessible content.

For more information about Ally at UMBC, please see this announcement and the FAQ collection.

July 26, 2019 marks the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act that was signed into law in 1990.  The ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) give civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA and ADAAA also assure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities for access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs and services, and telecommunications.

Nearly 57 million people in our country have a disability and nearly 25% of today’s 20 year olds will experience disability in their lifetime. Since 1991, the 10 regional ADA Centers have been established as a support to creating more inclusive and accessible environments by providing  accurate information, resources and training on the ADA to businesses, employers, state and local governments, people with disabilities and their families, advocates, and veterans across the United States.

Similarly, UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services provides technical support and accommodation processes as a support to equal opportunity for the entire UMBC community - beyond Student Disability Services, working in partnership with all campus departments and divisions, including Human Resources, Facilities Management and DoIT.  Through the application of the law and related guidance throughout UMBC, people with disabilities have better access to buildings, classrooms, employment, programs and services, and increasing opportunities for equal and full participation in campus and community life.  Equal access and equal opportunity benefit the whole community.

If you are looking for a way to honor this occasion at UMBC, sign up to attend Instructional Technology's Blackboard Ultra Ally Orientation on August 23rd at noon from the very accessible location of your own computer!  Details are here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/71615  We are thankful that Instructional Technology is a champion of ADA by orienting faculty in the provision of accessible course content.

If you are looking for ways to celebrate the ADA in your daily life, or through social media, click on the link below for ideas and inspiration.

Happy Anniversary ADA!

Facilities Management has the following Summer 2019 construction update:

Over the summer numerous construction projects will be taking place on campus, which may impact pedestrian pathways, building access points, roadways and some parking areas. As always, follow directional signage at the construction sites to navigate around these minor disruptions safely and effectively. For additional information please see the current construction activity map for information pertaining to the construction on campus and the summer 2019 accessible routes map for the location of temporary accessible routes where applicable.

Maintaining accessibility is part of the design and construction process. We work in partnership with Accessibility and Disability Services which supports faculty, staff, students and visitors with disabilities. If you have a concern about accessibility, or want to inquire about a disability-based accommodation, please do so through their website, https://accessibility.umbc.edu/

*Cross-posted to broaden exposure